LLoegrfach Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 Hi all, a good friend of mine is getting married soon and I'd like to make them a gift. I've googled for ideas but all I can find are horseshoes - which I don' really fancy! Any suggestions as to a good wedding gift to make? Ideally something traditional (not a scold's bridle!!) Thanks, Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CBrann Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 A nice candelabra is always nice.. perhaps something with a heart motif... a lamp.... or a "damascus" cake cutter... I saw someone made one of those somewhere..... a ton of coal.. what are they into? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Svarttrost Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 When my friend got married last winter I made a coat rack with some "house" symbolism to it. It was to wish them luck in their home together. -Svarttrost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beth Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 i agree about the heart motif - how a bout a decorative cupids heart with an arrow for wall or garden? not very trad i admit tho... you cant go wrong with candelabra like someone above suggested. anything hand made for a wedding present is a lovely gift Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 What kind of hobbies/sports are they into? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tzonoqua Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 Yes, hearts! I have sold loads of heart hooks as wedding and anniversary gifts, and even made a large heart, with some decorative twists in it for a couple that was embellished with ribbons and flowers and used in the wedding ceremony. But like Beth I agree, anything hand made will surely be appreciated and cherished as a gift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 kitchenware! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
double_edge2 Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 Hi all, a good friend of mine is getting married soon and I'd like to make them a gift. horse shoes are bits of straight stock with decorative holes already swedged, so ........fancy wine bottle holder, a pot rack with hooks and hand made chain links?, offer to make the candleabras for the tables for the wedding?, a wedding photo book from timber with the forged hinge thing, a drink tray from tight scrolls or patterned steel(horse shoes),, the old timber block with the horse shoe coat rack thing, a door knocker?,,,a coffee table?........ummm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John B Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 Table candleabra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
double_edge2 Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 HA!! the old hand forged, from horse shoes stock, large wedding photo frame.....?:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petere76 Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 Perhaps a set of plant hangers for the yard or terrace. I made this set last year for a couple from Texas who were married on the coast of Maine. The design is traditional, forged and riveted construction. It's visually easy, in that it will work with most deco schemes. Stamp the date and the initials of the happy couple on the piece to personalize the creation. Peter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LLoegrfach Posted August 26, 2009 Author Share Posted August 26, 2009 Thanks for all the suggestions! I love this forum!! Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thecelticforge Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 A friend of mine in WV was married a few years back and I made a treble cleft chime. H told me later, next to the cash, it was their favorite gift. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Ameling Posted August 26, 2009 Share Posted August 26, 2009 For some friends when they got married a few years ago, I made them a Dragon door knocker. The dragon was 3/4 stock, S curved, with the dragon head on top and the other end fishtailed out. I punched in a depression on both sides at the pivot/hanging point with a big center punch. Used a C bracket riveted to the flat back plate to hang the dragon door knocker. And I put a large rivet where it hit the back plate. Many of their relatives really really wanted it for themselves! I've also made flower candle holders - including a "unity" 3-candle holder for the wedding ceremony. The two outside candles are lit, then the couple use them to light that center candle together. Other possibilities? Trivets for hot pans. Book ends. Shelf brackets. And many people could use a coat rack - like a simple classic bar with riveted on hooks. Just a small bouquet of iron roses wrapped around their stems with thick copper wire will earn you lots of ... points ... with the couple and their family. I use the "long flattened/indented strip of iron rolled up" version of roses for these. Just a few possibilities. Mikey - that grumpy ol' German blacksmith out in the Hinterlands Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Einhorn Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 If you want traditional, consider making a colonial blacksmith type wedding bread toaster. toasterColonial Wrought Iron: The Sorber ... - Google BooksHearth Toaster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 Recently one of my wife's cousins daughters got married and I made them a pair of SS pig tail roasting forks. They like back packing and camping and anything forged. They had some "wrought" iron roasting forks from Target in their register. So considering backpacking and the weight of forged iron . . . well, IRON, I made these. They're relatively short and could've been shorter. The tail is drawn to less than 1/4" and wrapped into a short pig tail so it'll thread over a stick. Once you've roasted your wienies and smores you can stick it into a piece of wood or the ground and use it for a candle holder. I should say use THEM for candle holders, I made a pair. Frosty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 I made a fireplace tool set for my daughter and son-in-law and had the broom professionally tied. They were very pleased.Blacksmiths - Custom Brooms on Your Forged Handles - BroomShop.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48willys Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 I like this thread,we should keep it going. It seems like the last year or so I could have used a few of these ideas. Another friend is getting married soon,and I know he wants a Damascus knife of some sort,but I haven't got the skills yet to take on a project like that.I think I'll try Frosty's roasting forks,something that is alittle closer to my skills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urnesBeast Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 remember to point out to them that is is good luck to have a blacksmith at a wedding, because they can forge two pieces of metal into one. A story about the Scottish town would be good too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tzonoqua Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 (edited) more info on the Gretna Green, Scottish Blacksmith wedding tradition here... the bit relating to Blacksmiths is at the bottom of the pageScotfax: Marrying in Scotland on Undiscovered Scotland Edited August 27, 2009 by tzonoqua Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Francis Trez Cole Posted August 27, 2009 Share Posted August 27, 2009 When friends of mine get married I forge a stand of an oak leaf and acorn to hold a flouite sphere. to promote love, open mind, and growth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Ameling Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 and I know he wants a Damascus knife of some sort,but I haven't got the skills yet to take on a project like that. Well, there are a number of places that sell damascus bars and knife blanks. That might be a place to start. Making the original damascus billet tends to be the hard part. The rest is more skill in forming a knife blade and making a handle. Crazy Crow Trading Company offers some damascus knife blanks. And if you go to some of the knife maker supply sites, they offer lots more options to help get you started. So don't discount that damascus knife idea just yet. Mikey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
48willys Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 Thanks Mike,I'll keep that it mind.I was looking at that motorcycle chain knife I started a while back,and was thinking maybe I could cut the bad cold shuts off, draw it out and make like a vegetable knife.It wouldn't have as nice a pattern as something bought but I don't think it would be bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pault17 Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 My daughter came home from school last year with a request to make something for one of her teachers, who was getting married. I did the heart motife and made this. it was simple and useful, and they liked it a bunch - the teacher later thanked me personally. I know it;s not damascus, but it was reasonably easy, and if the look was to their liking, you could almays make matching anythings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pault17 Posted August 28, 2009 Share Posted August 28, 2009 Frosty, you never cease to amaze and educate me (as does just about everybody else on this forum). your forks are ingenious. I like the stick to candle idea. very cool and multi functional paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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